Page 5 - Huronia Community Foundation - 2023 Vital Signs Report
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WHO WE ARE:                                             process and understands the importance of

        YOUR COMMUNITY,                                         supporting the community by holding a mirror
                                                                to its strengths and challenges as accurately
        YOUR VOICE                                              as possible. Where local data was hard to find,

                                                                we leaned on broader research to inform us
        North Simcoe and Area’s
                                                                and consider how this might fit with what we
        Vital Signs is a community check-up conducted           learned here at home.
        by Community Foundations across Canada
        that measures the vitality of our communities           REFERENCES
        and identifies significant trends in a range            1.  Sustainable Development Goals
        of areas critical to quality of life. Vital Signs       2.  2030 Agenda
        is coordinated nationally by Community                  3.  Link to Platform
        Foundations of Canada.                                  4.  International Institute for Sustainable
                                                                    Development (IISD)
        This Vital Signs report focuses on North Simcoe         5.  RBC Future Launch Community Challenge
        and area (Midland, Tiny, Tay, Penetanguishene
        and includes Christian Island and the                   NORTH SIMCOE & AREA:
        Township of Georgian Bay). Throughout                   WHERE THE
        the work we are aware of the emphasis by                ENVIRONMENT
        Community Foundations of Canada (CFC) of
        the Sustainable Development Goals (1) set out           IS AT THE HEART OF
        by the United Nations and affirmed by Canada            EVERYTHING
        in the 2030 Agenda (2). The platform where
        the detailed Stats Canada data is shared, as            People connected to North Simcoe and area,
        well as expanded research and resources,                feel that its beauty and abundance of nature
        reflects these and is linked (3). It is supported       are among the top reasons for making the
        by the International Institute for Sustainable          region their home (1). The area is home to a
        Development (4). Please visit the site if you are       national park, several provincial parks and
        interested in any further details on the data           conservation reserves, and spans 2 Ecozones
        used in this report.                                    - the Ontario Shield Ecozone in the north; and
                                                                the Mixedwood Plains Ecozone in the south,
        In March of 2021 as part of an RBC Future               providing diverse habitats that support high
        Launch Community Challenge (5) we surveyed              biodiversity (2).
        youth in the region asking questions about
        their understanding of community and what                    • Over 1,100 km  of land makes up North Simcoe & Area.
                                                                                  2
        youth saw as the most pressing challenges.                   • As of 2021, there are over 51,000 residents in North
        Next to the pandemic, youth pointed to                         Simcoe & Area, an increase of over 10% since the
        Affordable Housing, Climate Action and Mental                  2016 census.
        Health as major concerns. With this in mind,                 • Over 1,500 km of shoreline on Georgian Bay, with an
        our Vital Signs team started gathering data                    estimated 66% around islands, plus 131 km along the
        early in 2022, asking questions, identifying                   Trent-Severn Waterway (3).
        resources, and talking to folks working with              KEY FACTS  • The region has more than 100 inland lakes.
        those most affected. The SDGs focused on in
        this report come from the data and what the
        community told us was important.                        WATER QUALITY

        Our Vital Signs team are all volunteers with            While North Simcoe and area, generally does
        varied backgrounds and experiences. Each                not lack access to safe, quality water resources
        member, however, has been committed to the              for drinking and recreation, there is concern

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